Tektronix to Showcase Advances in Video Quality for Post, Broadcast and Cable at NAB 2012

LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwire) -- 04/11/12 -- Tektronix, Inc., the market leader in broadcast video test, monitoring and analysis solutions, announced the company will showcase solutions specifically designed to further advance content quality monitoring for post production and broadcasters at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2012 Conference, April 16-19, in booth N1023.

Under the theme of "Realizing Content Quality from Production to the Home," highlights for this year's show include industry leading waveform monitors and rasterizers optimized for color grading, file-based video QC and video network monitoring. Tektronix is also featuring Steve Hullfish, accomplished editor and colorist, who will present techniques on how to use Waveform Monitors as artistic tools in color correction. In the Tektronix booth #N1023, Steve will present a free 15 minute talk on How to Color Grade Video every 30 minutes on the half hour.

New Fully Featured WFM2200 Portable Waveform Monitors Helps Engineers in the FieldIntuitive to operate, the WFM2200 makes it easy for technicians to quickly and efficiently find, diagnose and fix signal or content quality problems in the field. This portable HD, SD and 3G-SDI capable waveform monitor features a large, bright LED back-lit display, and a replaceable and rechargeable battery which eliminates down time. Its sharp "CRT-like" display helps broadcast engineers and technicians quickly identify signal issues and recognize problems within the video and audio signals. It also pairs signal generation with waveform analysis, making it ideal for verifying link performance between two broadcast facility devices. The WFM2200 displays the external reference as an analog signal to check the quality of the video sync pulse signal, and the Tektronix patented timing display helps to ensure facility system timing.

New WFM7200 Waveform Monitor and WVR7200 Rasterizer Provide Content Quality Verification and Precision Adjustments While Achieving Artistic ExcellenceThe growth of HD television and digital cinema drive content producers to use higher resolution video formats in original production and post-production (digital masters) due to the increase in viewers' expectations of content quality. The Tektronix WFM7200 waveform monitor and WVR7200 rasterizer help content providers verify the quality of video content and make precision adjustments that reduce the potential for gamut errors during the editing and format conversion process, effectively preventing client dissatisfaction and the need for costly rework. Advanced color gamut monitoring including Tektronix patented Luma Qualified Vector (LQV) and Spearhead gamut displays which, when working in conjunction with Diamond gamut display, provide the most comprehensive color gamut monitoring tool for precise color gamut adjustments. Both the WFM7200 and the WVR7200 support an extensive list of Dual Link signal formats as standard capability and have field upgradeable options to add support for high frame rate (1080P 50/60) formats and 3D formats.

Cerify Version 7.4 Keeps Pace with the File-based Workflow EvolutionCerify automates the QC of file-based video and audio, and now includes a series of new enhancements in the version 7.4 software release. Significant speed improvements now enable Cerify to test content at many times faster than real-time. A growing list of supported codecs/wrappers enable Cerify to start processing files as they are being ingested, resulting in an improved workflow efficiency. Keeping pace with emerging new mezzanine standards, Cerify now supports testing of DNxHD and JPEG2000 mezzanine formats. The addition of teletext and DVB subtitling strengthens the existing 608/708 caption support.

The new SDI7 module provides support for a wide variety of formats and standards (including 3G-SDI, HD-SDI and SD-SDI) in a single module, which provides greater flexibility in generating a range of test patterns. SD/HD/3G-SDI generation with EMB audio and ANC Data provide the test density required for testing in manufacturing and installation in broadcast operations. The circle, multi-language text, and color logo overlays can be applied to the generated test signals to check aspect ratio, identify streams or apply station logos. A deep test signal library includes a moving zone plate test signal, critical when testing codecs.

New MTS4000 MPEG Analyzer for IP Video Quality and 10G Network MonitoringThe new MTS4000 MPEG Analyzer is ideal for the analysis and troubleshooting of audio/video and transport problems in 10G networks for fault isolation and root cause analysis. Targeting a range of design, validation and test, field diagnostics and troubleshooting applications, the new MTS4000 offers unparalleled analysis capabilities for examining the video and audio quality of IP and RF transported video services.

The low base price and modular nature of the MTS4000 ensures a wide range of connectivity and software analysis options so customers can customize it to meet all their application needs and budget requirements. Network interface options include full line rate 1 Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, ATSC 8-VSB, QAM-B, DVB-S2 and a Quad port ASI interface.

Cross-layer and cross-domain analysis of the video and audio quality is possible through an extensive software suite that includes real-time video and audio quality of experience (QoE) analysis, picture quality analysis (based on the human vision model), and advanced Elementary Stream analysis including H.264/AVC intra profile and SVC support.

Sentry Edge for monitoring CALM Act ComplianceBroadcasters can monitor for overly loud commercials and comply with the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act and with the pending Canadian CRTC audio loudness regulations by using the new Audio Loudness Module (ALM) on Sentry Edge with an 8VSB RF interface. Sentry Edge with option ALM provides the most comprehensive audio loudness and Closed Caption monitoring solution on the market. With Sentry Edge, U.S. broadcasters can meet the monitoring and reporting requirements the FCC will use to determine when violations of the CALM Act and Closed Captioning regulations have occurred. Key compliance features of the Sentry Edge include an historical database that allows users to create graphs, executive reports and trending analysis going back 60 days.

Upgraded Sentry provides H.264 Perceptual Video Quality (PVQ) metrics and thumbnail support for unparalleled depth in Advanced QoE monitoring Building on its industry-leading MPEG-2 monitoring capabilities, Sentry has been recently upgraded to enable service providers to monitor H.264 streams with its advanced Perceptual Video Quality (PVQ) feature. PVQ, also known as eMOS (effective mean opinion score), detects errors related to over-compression, such as blockiness, measuring how much each over-compression error impacts viewers' QoE. For content destined for OTT applications, it enables QoE and PVQ checks at ingest as well as before the transcoder (pre-fragmentation step). Support for on-demand thumbnail generation has been added to many of Sentry's reports, allowing users to validate program content.

Sentry Assure for Cable post-splice Ad Verification monitoringSentry Assure is a member of the award-winning Sentry line of video quality monitors and is specifically designed for post-splice monitoring. Able to monitor up to 1Gbps on a Gigabit Ethernet interface, it provides large scale content monitoring in real time before modulation. It can proactively monitor audio loudness issues and validate post-event complaints to help service providers meet CALM ACT and regulatory compliance and audit requirements. Sentry Assure also validates closed captioning carriage requirements by monitoring the SCTE-608/708/20 specifications for Closed Captioning compliance. Additionally, Sentry Assure can also monitor advertising insertions, validating SCTE-35 message integrity, enabling service providers to verify when ads have been properly inserted or troubleshoot issues when insertions are not done properly.

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About TektronixFor more than sixty five years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test equipment for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com

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